Heel structure for full fashioned stockings and method



Jan. 10, 1956 c, A, M|LES 2,729,958

HEEL STRUCTURE FOR FULL FASHIONED STOCKINGS AND METHOD CHA/auf A MILES,

INVENTOR ATTORNEYS.

C. A. MILES Jan. 10, 1956 HEEL STRUCTURE FOR FULL FASHIONED* STOCKINGSAND METHOD 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 28, 1951 INVENTORI CHARLIE A.MILES Eva ATTORNEYS Jan. l0, 1956 Q A M|LE$ 2,729,958

HEEL STRUCTURE F'OR FULL FASHIONED STOCKINGS AND METHOD Filed May 28.1951 4 Sheets-Sheet. 3

INVENTO.

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Z5- 5 70a 70a CHARusAM/Lss Jan. 10, 1956 C, A MlLEs 2,729,958

HEEL STRUCTURE FOR FULL FASHIONED STOCKINGS AND METHOD Filed May 28,1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 7 CHARLIEAWI:

BY L d-jb ATTORNEYS.

t 2,129,9ss

. HEEL STRUCTURE Fon FULL FAsmoNsn t t srocxrNGs AND METHOD chai-ue A.Miles, Burlington, N. c., assigner to standard l HosleryMills, Inc.,Burlington, N. C., a corporation of North Carolina l Application May 28,1951,` Seal No. 228,665

6 claims. (cl. sts-11s) This invention relates `to a full fashionedstocking and the primary object of the invention is to provide n fullfashioned stocking made from a blank having high spliced heel portionsin each of which a reenforcing yarn is plated terminal loops" in eachsuccessive course at the junctures of the reenforced heel portions andthe reenforced ma'rginal areas are formed` in like immediatelycontiguous needle wales in a straight line from the top of the highspliced heel portions to the bottom of the heel pockets or into the soleof the stocking.

2,729,958 `Patented Jain. l10i, 1.956

to be understood that each ofthe marginalareasknitted from the thirdyarnwill be relatively narrowat the upper edge of the extended portionsof thel heel tabs and then gradually increased inwidth toward theinstepin a step by step manner, according to a desired pattern. `l-achmarginal area, knitted from the third yarn, may extend into the foot ofthe stocking and, if so desired, it may be plated along the sole andinto the toe of the stocking.

, Some of the objects of the inventionhaving been stated, other objectswill appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings in which Figure l is a schematic view of thefoot,

heel and instep portions of astocking blank embodying the features `ofthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a greatly enlarged fragmentaryview of the area 2-2 in Figure1 illustrating oneform of loop structure at the junctures of the threecontiguous areas at one edge of the blank; g, Y. 'c

` Figure 3 is a view similar to the lowerportion of Figure 2, butshowing a second form of loop structure at the junctures of the vthreecontiguous areas and showing the loops of the heel and marginal areas asboth are knitted from reenforcing or plating yarns which overlap eachother for a few wales;

Figure 4 is'a schematiclview corresponding to Figure 2 illustrating howthe heel, instep and foot portions of the stocking blank may be producedon a full fashioned knitting machine;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 but corresponding to Figure 3;

It is another object of this invention to provide a stck- `ing blank ofthe type described whereinthe contiguous reenforced areas defining theheel tabs or pockets and the marginal areas are knitted in such a mannerthat the stitches formed from the reenforcing yarns inthe heel tabsoverlap the stitches formed from the reenforc'mg yarns in the marginalareas in order to insure that the sinker or divider wale deiningthejuncture o f each heel pocket and the adjacent marginal area will bereenforced.

It is still another object of this invention to provide a full fashionedstocking", the leg and foot of which are knitted from a first or bodyyarn and the heel tabs of which are knitted from second yarnsindependently of the first or body yarn and wherein the areas knittedfrom the second yarns also extend a substantial distance along the backof the heel representative of the `high spliced heel but, in whichinstance, the heel tabs and the extended portions thereof need notnecessarily be reenforced. On the other hand, the heel tabs and theupwardly extending portions thereof may be made from a plurality ofyarns or from a different type, denierweight, or count of yarn than thefirst or body yarn. In this distance, the body yarn is knitted inoverlapping relation to each second yarn for a few wales, but thecourses knitted from the body yarn all terminate in a single needle waleto vform a straight or uninterrupted line defining the juncture of thecontiguous areas defining the body and the heel of the stocking.

In addition to the above, marginal areas are knitted each from a thirdyarn which s plated over the body yarn and the outer edge or selvage ofwhich terminates either in the same wale in which the adjacent areaknitted from the second yarn terminates or in the same wale in whicheach of the marginal areas knitted from the first yarn terminates. `Inthe latterinstance, it is evident that the area knitted from the thirdyarn would then be knitted in overlapping relation to the area knittedfrom the second yarn. Each of the yarns employed should be of acontrasting color to the yarn employed in the next adjacent area to thusproduce an effect pleasing to the eye. It is Figure 6 is a view similarto Figure 3l but showing a third form of loop structure wherein the heeland body of the stocking blank are knitted from differentV yarnswith-the marginal area adjacent a corresponding edge of the blank beingplated over the body of the stockingand the yarns employed in the heeland body of the stocking are knitted in overlapping relation for a fewwales at their juncture. L

Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure showing a fourth form of loopstructure which diEers from Figure 6 only in that the yarnemployed inthe plated marginal area terminates in the same wale as the yarnlemployed in the body of the stocking.

Referring more specifically to the drawings, there is shown in Figures land 4 a portion of a stocking blank which is indicated broadly at 10.The stocking blank 10 comprisesl a leg portion l1 and an instep portion12 which are of a single thickness knitted fabric preferably knittedfrom a plurality of relatively fine silk or nylon body yarns of the samecount and color in the manner of ringless hose. In the present instance,a single body yarn is employed which is designated at B in Figure 2. Theinstep portion l2 is a part of the foot of the stocking.

The portion of the leg 11 of the stocking illustrated in Figure l isknitted approximately threev hundred 'ten wales wide for example,following which the number of wales are increased by approximately fortywales at each side of the stocking blank in which widening points 13 areeffected to form the first half of a heel tab or pocket 14 at each sideof the stocking blank. The second half of each of the heel tabs 14 isthenformed by the usual narrowings 15, following which the soleyand-instep 12,

Now, inthe first form of the invention,` the courses knitted from thebody yarn B extend from selvage to portion of the 3 selvage throughoutthe knitting of the leg 11, the heel tabs 14, the sole and instep 12 andthe toe. As the leg and heel portions 1l and 14 of the` stocking blankl0 are knitted, a reenforcing yarn indicated at R in Figure 2, isknitted simultaneously with and plated over the body yarn B to form eachof a pair of-high spliced portions 2l which extend upwardly from thecorresponding heel tabs 14, when the stocking is being worn, and each ofthe reenforcing yarns R is plated over the body yarn B in -knitting theentire area of each heel tab 14 and the corresponding high splicedportions 21.

Moreover, as the stocking is knitted from the bodyyarnBamarginalarea22isknitted ateach sideofthe blank, which marginalareas 22 provide margins between the body and the heel tabs 14 of thestocking blank 10. Each marginal area 22 is knitted from a secondreenforcing yarn indicated at M in Figure 2; Although the reenforeedareas 2l and 22 are the same at each side of the blank 10, each of saidareas is knitted from an independent plating or reenforcing yarn. In theoriginal form of the invention, the pairs of contiguous areas 21 and 22knitted from the reenforcing or plating yarns'R and M, respectively, aredened at their junctures by a straight line indicated at 23 and whichextends from the upper end of thecorresponding high spliced area 2l tothe bottom of the corresponding heel tab which is the upper edge of eachheel tab as illustrated in Figure l since the stocking blank is showninverted in accordance with the sequence in which the various portions'of the stocking blank are knitted. Thus, the 4dividing line 23 betweeneach heel tab 14 and the corresponding marginal area 22 preferablyextends along one of the sinker or divider wales of the stocking blank.

The high spliced areas 21 at opposed sides of the stocking blank l0 arepreferably knitted approximately twenty wales wide. It will be notedthat the width of each marginal area 22 gradually increases in astep-bystep manner from the lowermost edge of each of the high splicedareas 2l in Figure 1, to a point adjacent .the ,4 upper edge of the heeltab 14 in Figure l, it being preferred that the marginal area as it isfirst knitted be approximately six wales wide and 'gradually increasedto approximately twenty-six wales wide.

The yarn M employed in knitting each marginal area 22 is preferably of acontrasting color to that of the body yarn B and the yarn R employed inknitting each heel pocket 14 and the corresponding high spliced area 21at opposed sides of the stocking blank. Also, it is preferred that eachheel pocket 14 and the corresponding high spliced area 2l be knittedfrom a yarn contrasting in color to that of thc body yarn.

ln order to more clearly discern the mannerin which the original form ofstocking blank is knitted, there is shown schematically in Figure 4 aportion of a full fashioned knitting machine which, in this instance, isprovided with tive carrier rods indicated at 31 'to 35, inclusive. Thecarrier rod 3l has the usual body yarn carrier 36 fixed thereon andprojecting forwardly therefrom and the carrier rods 32 to 35, inclusive,are provided with respective yarn carriers 40 to 43, inclusive, fixedlymounted thereon and extending forwardly therefrom. The yam carriers 36and 40 to 43, inclusive, are curved in a well known manner so they movepast one another during the knitting of the stocking blank l0, thecarrier rods 3l to 35, inclusive, being reciprocated in a well knownmanner according to conventional pattern means, not shown, associatedwith the usual full fashioned hosiery knitting machine.

The yarn carriers 40 and 41 are provided for' directing thecorresponding yarns R to the needles employed in 7.0

knitting the heel pockets or tabs 14 and the yarn carriers 42 and 43 areemployed in directing the corresponding reenforcing or plating yarns Mto the needles for knitting the marginal areas 22 at opposed sides ofthe a pair of spaced abutments or carrier rod end stops'44 and 45 whichare controlled as totheir positions relative to the stocking blank 10 byrespective intermittently actuated screw spindles 46 and 47.

` These carrier rod end stops 44 and 45 coact with stops 48 and 49 onthe carrier rod 31 to variantly limit their traverse since the carrierrod end stops 44 and 45 are moved inwardly and outwardly with respect toeach other by conventional pattern means which intermittently actuatethe screw spindles 46 and 47. The carrier rods 32 and 33 are alsoprovided wtih respective outer stops 51 and 52 which are vadapted toengage the correspond- Y stop members or splicing blocks 55 andV 56 forlimiting the inward traverse of the yarn .carriers 40 and 4l. Thesesplicing blocks 55 and 56 generally remain in a fixed position relativeto the stocking blank 10 during the knitting thereof and are alsoprovided to limit outward movement of the yarn carriers 42 and 43, theseyarn carriers 42 and 43 being provided with respective pairs of stops60, 6l and 62, 63. Each of the stops 48, 49,

the heel pockets 14 and the marginal areas 22 extend in a straight linefrom the heel cheeks or high spliced 0 attachment such as a pointex orreenforced selvage attachment'should be provided and should include stopnuts 64 and65'\'vhich are threadably penetrated by respectiveintermittently actuated screw spindles 66 and 67, these screw spindles66 and 67 being controlled as to their intermittency of rotation bysuitable pattern means,

not shown. These stop nuts 64 and 65- extend forwardly and their outersurfaces are adapted to be engaged by the respective stops 6l and 63 onthe carrier rods 34 and 35 to thus variantly limit the inward movementof the yarn carriers 42 and 43 which direct the yarns vM to the needles.

Although, it is not necessarily an essential part of the presentinvention, it will be observed in Figures l and 4 that there is arelatively narrow marginal area 70 disposed between the lower edge ofeach high spliced area 21 and the corresponding leg `portion 11 at eachside of the stocking blank 10 shown in Figure l. It is evident, ofcourse, that this marginal area 70 would extend across the upper edge ofthe high splice area when the stocking is being worn. This marginal area'70 is actually an extension of the corresponding marginal area 22 andis preferably made from the same yarn asv that employed in the knittingof the marginal area 22. t

Thus, in knitting the first few courses to form the marginal area 70 ateach side of the stocking blank 10, the splicing blocks 55 `and 56 inFigure 4 should be controlled by conventional means, not shown, topermit the yarn carriers 42 and 43 to move outwardly to the limit atwhich the body yarn carrier 36 is moved outwardly in knitting the footof the stocking blank. After the marginal area Il is knitted at opposedsides of the stocking blank It), all live of the yarn carriers 36 and 40to 43, inclusive, are brought into play in order that, as the main orbody yarn carrier 36 moves from the right-hand selvage of the stockingblank 10 to the left-hand selvage stocking blank l0. The knittingmachine also `includes thereof, for example, the yarn carrier 40 will bedisposed agences immediately beneath the yarn carrier 36 at'therighthand selvage of the stocking blank 10 and will move inwardly withthe yarn carrier36 untilrthe stop 53 engages the splicing block` 55and,at `which point, the yarn carrier 36in Figure 4 will then move abovethe yarn carin knitting the particular course across the stocking blank10 from right to left in Figure 4 until it moves above the yarn carrier42. The yarn carrier 42 will then move along `with the yarn carrier 36until it has moved inwardly to the juncture line 23 at the left-handside of the stocking 10 in Figures 1 and 4. This yarn carrier 42 willcease its `movement and the yarn carrier 36 will move `above the yarncarrier 41 whereupon the yarn carriers 36 and 41 will continue outwardlyto the left-hand selvage of the fabric 10 at which point both of thestops 48 and 52 on the carrier rods 31 and 33 will engage the carrierrod end stop 44 to complete the knitting of this particular course. `Itis evident that the yarn carriers 36 and 40 to 43, inclusive, willoperate in a similar manner but in the opposite direction as the bodyyarn carrier 36 subsequently moves from the left-,hand to the right-handselvage of the fabric 10 Figures 1 and 4.

lt is thus seen that the yarn employed in the knitting of each of thehigh spliced portions 21 and the corresponding heel pocket 14 is platedover the body yarn up to the dividing line 23 and from whence inwardlythe yarn M employed in knitting the adjacent marginal area 22 will thenbe plated over the body yarn B for a predetermined number of wales.

This is more clearly illustrated in Figure 2 where it will be observedthat the loops or stitches formed from the body yarn B extend from oneside of the fabric to the other while each marginal area, only one ofwhich is shown in Figure 2, knitted from the reenforcing or plating yarnM, which is of a contrasting color or type to that of the body yarn B,is plated over the area knitted from the body yarn B from right to leftin Figure 2 up to the divider or sinker wale 23. The reenforcing orplating yarn R is then plated over the body yarn B from the dividingwale 23 outwardly to the selvage of the heel pocket 14. The areasknitted from the yarns M and R are bracketed and designated accordinglyin Figure 2.

It is thus seen that the line represented by the dividing Wale 23between each of the pairs of adjacent or contiguous areas knitted fromthe yarns R and M are formed by selvage loops 71 made from the yarn Mand selvage loops 72 made from the yarn R which selvage loops resultfrom reversals of the `respective carrier lingers 42 and 41 or 43 and 40according to the corresponding side of the vstocking blank 10.

The second form of the invention which is embodied in the stockingillustrated in Figures 3 and 5, is substan-4 tially identical with thestocking shown in Figures 2 andl 44 except as to the formation of thejuncture of the marginal areas and the heel pockets. Therefore, in orderto preclude the necessity for repetitive description, all correspondingparts in Figures 3 vand 5 have been identified by the same referencecharacters previously employed with the addition, however, in eachinstance, of the letter "a for purposes of distinction.

The stocking blank of Figures 3 and 5 differs from the stocking blankshown in Figures 2 and 4 in that the proximate portions of each heelpocket 14a and high spliced area 21a and the adjacent marginal area 22ahave their corresponding yarns R-a and M-a interknitted in overlappingrelation with each other for a'few wales,

they being interknitted for two wales, as shown in Figure 3, by way ofexample. The body yarnB-a also extends from .selvage to selvage ofthestockinglblank 10a in the form of the invention shown in Figures 3and 5.

It is evident that the knitting instrumentalities shown in Figure 5operate in knitting the form of structure shown in Figure 3 in a mannervery similar to that described for the knitting instrumentalities shownin Figure 4. However, in this instance, it is evident that both of theyarn carriers 40a and 43a move along with the main or body yarn carrier46 for a few wales as the body yarn carrier 36a moves from left to`right in Figure 5 during the knitting at the juncture of adjacent areas14a and 22a at the right-hand side of the stocking shown in Figure 5.

Of course, after knitting this area 14a,` the main yarn carrier 36a willcontinue to move along with the marginal yarn carrier 43a to theinneredge of the right-hand marginal area 22a, after which the main orbody yarn carrier 36a will continue across the stocking. The yarncarrier 42a will then move along with the body yarn carrier 36a fromright to left in knitting the area 22a in the left-hand side of thestocking shown in Figure 5 until the yarn carrier 36a moves above theyarn carrier 41a.

Then, all three of the yarn carriers 36a, 41a and 42a will move alongsimultaneously for a few wales to thus cause the yarns M-a and R-a to beinteriknitted in overlapping relation at this point with the body yarnB-a. The yarn carrier 42a will then cease its movement from right toleft as the yarn carriers 36a and 41a continue to the left-hand selvageof the heel tab 14a at the lefthand side of the stocking shown in Figure5. The various courses will then be repeated substantially in the mannerdescribed with the result that a clear line of separation is formedbetween the adjacent areas knitted from the yarns R-a and M- and whereinthe outside yterminal loops in each area knitted from the yarn Ma,

one of which areas is bracketed and indicated accordingly in Figure 3,are formed in a corresponding needle wale 73 while the inside terminalloops of the corresponding contiguous area knitted from the yarn R-a,which area is also bracketed and indicated accordingly, extend inoverlapping relation to the area knitted from the yarn M-a for two walesincluding the needle wale 73 and the next adjacent needle wale which isindicated at 74.

It will be noted in this instance, that the body yarn extends fromselvage to selvage of the fabric and the yarns R-a and M-a are merelyplated over the body yarn in the corresponding areas defined thereby.

In the third and fourth forms of the invention shown in Figures 6 and 7,respectively, the heel tab in each instance is knitted from a differentyarn than the body of the stocking with the yarn employed in the heeltab being interknitted at its juncture with the body yarn to form asuture. Inthe third form of the invention, the body yarn is indicated atB-b, the area knitted from the body yarn being bracketed and indicatedaccordingly. The

yarn employed in knitting the marginal area in the third form of `theinvention is indicated at M-b and the corresponding marginal area isbracketed and indicated acct... ingly while the portion of the heel tabshown is knitted from a yarn indicated at R-b and is bracketed anddesignated accordingly to thereby clearly distinguish the limits of theareas knitted from the corresponding yarns.

It will be noted in Figure 6 that the area knitted from the body yarnB-b extends from the right-hand side of l as a line lof separationbetween the marginal area and the heel of the stocking.

The fourth form of the invention, shown in Figure 7,

is similar to the third form of the invention shown in. 1 Figure 6 andthe yarns employed .in the body, the marginal area and the heel of thestocking are indicaed at B-c, M-c and R-c respectively. The areasknitted from these respective yarns are bracketed and designatedaccordingly to thereby clearly distinguish the wales embraced by thecorresponding yarns. l

In the fourth form of the invention, the body yarn B-c extends inwardlyfrom the right-hand side of Figure 7 and the terminal loops thereof areformed in a wale 81.

The yarn R"c, employed in knitting the heel tab, ex.

from the yarn B-c in the wale 8l, thereby causing the plated lyam'M-candthe body Ayarn B-c to overlap the stitches formed from thevyarn R-c.

Although the stitches from adjacent areas are shown as being overlappedfor two wales in the second, third and fourth forms of the invention,shown in Figures 3, 6 and 7, respectively, it is tobe understood thatthe stitches formed from the yarns in adjacent areas may be overlappedfor a single wale or for a substantially lgreater number of wales thanthat shown in the drawings.

l'he stepped configuration of the innerdedges of the marginal areasadjacent the heel tabs and the high heel portions may be of any desiredarrangement, one example lbeing to provide the area 70 six courses highand extending the same approximately six wales beyond the inner edge ofthe corresponding high heel portions 2l after which the relativelynarrow upper portion of the marginalarea may extend six wales wide andapproximately fifty courses high.- The steps could vthen be formedtwenty courses apart with each course stepped approximately two waleswide at each side of the stocking. Thus, the portion'of the marginalarea between the selvage at the sole of the stockingl and the instep maybe approximately twenty-six wales wide at opposed sides of the stocking,the size and shape of the marginal areas beingv arranged in any desiredmanner at the toe of the stocking.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferredembodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed,they are used in a generic andl descriptive sense only and not forpurposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in theclaims.

I claim:

` 1. In a stocking blank having a foot including a sole and an instep,laterally projecting heel tabs and a high extended heel portion aboveeach heel tab, a reenforced marginal area spaced inwardly from the outerselvages of each heel tab and high heel portion and being disposedbetween each heel tab and high vheel portion and the instep of the blankwherein the adjacentl edges of the re-Atheinstepportionofthestocklngsndextendingfroms point substantially abovethe juncture of each heel tab sud thefleg and being spaced inwardly of a-selvage of the legl and wherein the courses forming each reenforcedmarginal areaallterminate in the same wale at'the outer,

edge of the reenforced area, thus 'defining an'uninterrupted line ofdemarcation between each heel tab and its adjacent reenforced marginalarea, the terminus of each reenforced marginalarea in the leg beingrelatively` narrow and the width of each marginal area graduallyincreasing in a stepped'manner at the edge of the reenforced marginalarea remote from a selvage of the leg and a heel tab of the blank for apredetermined num ber of courses, each -reenforced marginalarea-extending into the sole .portion Aof the blank to provide a mar-Qrdlarea extending from alselvage of the soleand in y for apredetermined number of wales and wherein the latter portion of v'themarginal area embraces a constant number of wales for a predeterminednumber of. courses to thereby eect a substantially straight line ofdemarcation at the juncture of each reenforced 'marginal area in thesole of the blank and the instep ponisnomebnna' l y 3. In afull-fashioned stocking formed from a blank having selvaged leg andvsole portions and an instep knitted from a rst yarn, a selvagedheelpocket knitted at each side of the blank from a corresponding secondyarn independently of the first yarn, the first yarn and the secondyarn.in each heel pocket being interknitted simultaneously in apredetermined number of wales at the juncture'of each heel pocketandthe'leg portion, a

reenforced area knitted from a corresponding third yarn between thevinstep andeach pocket of the blank, the terminal loops knitted Ifromeach third yarn at the outer edge of each lmarginal area being disposedin a needle t waleadjacent the needle wale in which the terminal loopsenforced marginal areas and of the heel tabs and the high heel portionsextend in straight lines defined by t two adjacent wales from ,the upperend of each high extended heel portion to the juncture of 4thecorresponding heel tab and the sole, and each of said marginal areas be.ing relatively narrow adjacent the upper end of the corresponding highheel portion and gradually increasing in width in a stepped manner atthe inner edge thereof toa juncture of the heel tabs and the solemarginal area disposed between each of the heel tabs and g of thecorresponding second yarn at the inner-edge of each heel pocket aredisposed thus providing at least one sinker or divider wale formed fromthe first. yarn beond and third yarns.

4. In a method of knitting a full-fashioned stocking blank having aselvaged leg knitted from atleast one body yarn, the'steps of thereafterforming each of a plurality of successive courses by starting at oneedge tween the adjacent areas knitted from each of the secof the blankandknitting a first independent yarn in a first group of wales, knittingsaid first yarn in plating relation with the body yarn in at least onewale, knitting a second yarn in plating relation with the body yarnindependently of the first yarn in a second group of wales immediatelyadjacent the first group of wales, knitting an instep solely from thebody yarn, .knitting said third yarn in plating relation with the bodyy'arn independently of the first and second yarns in a third group ofwales, knitting a fourth yam in plating relation with the body yarnindependently of the first, second and third yarns in at least one wale,and knitting the fourth yarn independently of the body yarn and thefirst, second and third plating yarns in a fourth group of walesimmediately adjacent the third group of wales to complete eachsuccessive course.

body yarn, the steps of thereafter forming each of a plurality ofsuccessive courses by starting at one edge o f the blank and knitting. arst independent yarn in a first group of wales, knitting said irsl Yarnin plating relation with the b ody yarn in at least one wale, knitting asecond yarn in plating relation with the body yarnindependently of thefirst yarn in a second group of wales immediately adjacent the firstgroup of wales, knitting an instep solely from the-body yarn, knitting athird yarn in plating relation with the body yarn independently of thefirst and-second yarns in a third group of wales, knitting a fourth yarnin plating relation with the body yarn independently of the first,second and third yarns in at least one wale, knitting the fourth yarnindependently of the body yarn and the first, second and third platingyarns in a fourth group of wales immediately adjacent the third group ofwales to `complete eachsuccessive course and varying the number ofstitches at the opposite outer edges of the blank formed by each of thefirst and fourth yarns from course to course to form heel tabstherewith.

6. In a method of knitting a ful1-fashioned stocking blank having aselvaged leg knitted from at least one body yarn, the steps ofthereafter forming each of a plurality of successive courses by startingat one edge of the blank and knitting a first independent yarn in a rstgroup of wales, knitting said first yarn in plating relation with thebody yarn in at least one wale, knitting a second yarn in platingrelation with the body yarn independently of the rst yarn in a secondgroup of wales immediately adjacent the first group of wales, knit tingan instep solely from the body yarn, knitting a third yarn in platingrelation with the body yarn independ- .ently of the first and secondyarns in a third group of wales, knitting a fourth yarn in platingrelation with third plating yarns in a fourth group of walesirnmediately adjacent the third group of wales to complete eachsuccessive course, and varying the number of stitches formed from thesecond yarn and the third yarn in successive groups of course at theedges formed thereby adjacent the instep of the blank.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,672,873 Bacon et al. June 12, 1928 1,816,709 Wilson July 28, 19312,009,294 Getaz July 23, 1935 2,015,002 Coller Sept. 17, 1935 2,301,468Smetana Nov. 10, 1942 2,305,218 Hemmerich Dec. 15, 1942 2,305,885 LudwigDec. 22, 1942 2,532,072 Nebel Nov. 28, 1950 2,546,444 Hall Mar. 27, 19512,580,506 Barsby et al. Ian. 1, 1952

